Short-lived Stem Cells Fight Brain Tumors, for a Time

By Anette BreindlScience Editor

Friday, May 10, 2013

The typical goal of stem cell therapies is to get the mature cells they produce to take up permanent residence in patients. But there is one therapeutic area where the opposite is true: Scientists are injecting stem cells that function as temporary drug delivery vehicles for brain tumors. "Over time, the cells tend to die off," noted Karen Aboody. But for this particular application, that lack of staying power is a strength, not a weakness.